Free J.M. Griffin - Vinnie Esposito 05 - Season for Murder by J.M Griffin Page A

sandwiches.
    Instead of cat food sandwiches, steaming sausage calzones, cut into thick slices, layered the plate. Nonni poured wine and handed me the dish, so I could take a sandwich or two. Eager, I lifted two slices off the plate and placed them on my dish.
    Sweet red wine slid down my throat smooth as cream. I smacked my lips and started eating one of the calzone slices. Rich flavors of oregano, basil, and tomato sauce mingled with the robust tanginess of Italian sausage and Mozzarella cheese. Crusty baked dough surrounded the entire delight. I relished the savory taste. Could this be the last supper? I wondered as I glanced at Nonni.
    Seated across from me, Nonni nibbled a calzone, and sipped the wine. Her glance lingered on me as she set the plate aside. My stomach tightened, but I waited in silence for the matriarch of our family to speak her mind.
    “As you know, your mother has become embroiled in this un-a-fortunate incident. The old-a woman who died is known to me, Lavinia. Your mother does not realize this yet, but I think she will remember soon.” Nonni sighed and threw her hands in the air. “Mama mia, I don’t know how these things happen.” She rubbed the back of her wrist across her forehead before brushing a stray wisp of hair aside.
    The actions reminded me of a dramatic scene in a 1920s silent movie. The thought rolled through my head as I fought off a grin. If Nonni thought I saw humor in the situation, I’d be in big trouble. After all, I was on the fast track to hell, and I wasn’t about to push things further by laughing at Nonni.
    “Tell me about the woman, Nonni. If you know anything that will help me prove Mom is innocent of any wrongdoing, I’d appreciate it.” I sat back, the food forgotten.
    “This Iva woman and I went back many years.” She sneered a bit when thinking of Iva. “I hadn’t seen her in a long-a time until I accompanied your mother to the senior center to visit the old people.”
    Nonni was in her eighties and ‘ old people ’ was the bracket she fit into. I didn’t mention the fact since it would be detrimental to my health to do so. The idea of a wooden spoon swinging in my direction appeared in my mind.
    “Did you and Iva get along?” I asked while I twirled the stem of my wine glass. The deep burgundy liquid dipped and swirled in the glass.
    “At first we did, but as time went by, I saw her for what she really was. Things changed between us. I went my own way and-a so did she. When I met her at the old peoples’ place, I wondered if she’d changed. I guess not, since she’s dead.” Nonni shook her head with dismay. She lifted her hands, palms up, and shrugged her shoulders.
    Unbelievable as it might seem, I was speechless. My mouth twitched, but no words came to mind. Questions popped forth in droves, but I wanted Nonni to tell the story in her own way. I glanced at the clock on the side table. There was plenty of time before Marcus arrived at the house, so I leaned back and relaxed. As we sipped wine, Nonni placed her dish on the tray and leaned forward.
    “Iva was a nasty woman who hurt many people and enjoyed it. When we were young, she broke-a marriages, ended engagements, and she was a miserable bitch.” Her voice rose and her accent intensified. “It-a was-a a bad time when she came around. That-a nosy woman would get secrets and keep them-a until it served her purpose to use it against somebody.”
    “Keep them how?” I asked.
    “She’d steal private papers from homes. Secrets, like I said. Why she didn’t get whacked is a miracle only God could have-a handled.”
    “Mom mentioned she was sneaky and some of the other senior citizens said the same thing,” I said. “Are you sure she was the same person you knew in your youth?”
    “I’m-a sure of this, Lavinia.” Nonni nodded. “I wouldn’t make-a this mistake, believe me. She once took-a some papers from Gino Carochi’s private desk. She tried-a to sell them to the highest bidder.